London Senior Cup Third Round

Fisher dumped Ryman Premier League side Cray Wanderers out of the London Senior Cup in a penalty shoot-out to set up a quarter-final showdown with Croydon Athletic.
Leigh Bremner put The Wands ahead from six yards before a stunning shot from substitute George Porter put Cray 2-0 ahead and seemingly destined for the quarter-finals.
Cray failed to deal with Elstrom Die’s pace late on however and a solo goal from him followed by a Lloyd Boateng’s equaliser deep into extra-time ensured the game went to penalties.
Lewis Wood missed the crucial spot kick as The Fish won the shoot-out 4-3.
Lewis Wood, brother of team-mate Jamie Wood, struck the ball high over the bar to the delight of Fisher keeper Adam Lisney, who had earlier sensationally tipped Colin Luckett’s 116th minute spot kick around the post.
Ryman Premier Division Cray went into the tie on a decent spell of form with three wins from their previous five games while Gary Lisney’s team were on a miserable run, taking just one win from their previous thirteen outings. But it is Fisher not Cray who are still in with a chance of lifting the Senior Cup this season in their very first campaign since reforming after producing an outstandingly spirited performance at Champion Hill.
After a first-half in which the visitors dominated posession whilst wasting a host of chances to score, Fisher could see themselves as fortuitous to go in at the half-time break with the scores still at 0-0.
Fisher kept battling away in the second half but Cray stayed on top of proceedings and had their best chance to take the lead on the hour mark when Lewis Wood neatly turned Kris Hollidge before Lisney pulled off an incredible save to stop Wood’s goal-bound effort and keep the game goaless.
Another couple of efforts were cleared off the line by the spirited Fisher defence late in the second half as the 90 minutes drew to a close.
Fisher seemed to draw confidence from keeping the tie level at full-time and in the early stages of extra time began to pose a threat themselves to the Cray goal. Substitute Die was released on the counter attack and after beating Cray’s last defender Rob Quinn, the French winger cut inside into the penalty box before lashing the ball into the side netting when it seemed like a dead-cert he would score.
On the stroke of half-time of extra time however, Fisher’s and Adam Lisney’s brave resistance was finally broken as Leigh Bremner found the net from six-yards giving the Fisher keeper no chance on this occasion.
Lisney wasn’t prepared to give up the fight just yet however and a top class save from a Colin Luckett penalty just the other side of half-time provided Fisher with a glimmer of hope that they could still rescue the tie.
The optimism seemed to be short-lived however as on 110 minutes teenager George Porter placed an inch perfect shot into the top corner of the Fisher goal from the edge of the area to break Fisher hearts and seemingly book Cray’s place in the quarter finals.
Despite being now two goals down Fisher refused to throw in the towel and as the pacy Die sprinted forwards, Bryan Glover threaded a fine pass through to him which he ran onto before rounding the Cray keeper and slotting home from a tight angle to make the score 2-1.
Having been given a life-line from Die’s late goal, Fisher threw men forward, centre back Lloyd Boateng proving a handful in particular for the visitors to deal with.
A hopeful long ball from the back proved troublesome for the Cray defence and a chested back-pass intended for the keeper instead rebounded off him and somehow ended up at Boatengs feet, Boateng took a touch and then smashed the ball into the roof of the empty net to spark wild celebrations from the players and home support with just seconds left of extra time to play.
Fisher were clinical with their finishing in the penalty shoot out that ensued, scoring four out of four. Cray were less convincing, scoring their first two but having their third effort saved by Lisney meaning Lewis Wood had to score to keep Cray level.
Wood blasted the ball over for their final kick and more scenes of jubilation followed for Fisher and the fans as they can now look forward to another home fixture against Ryman League opposition as they take on Croydon Athletic for a place in the semi-final.